KMFDM
Biography
Such industrial alt-metal outfits as Nine Inch Nails and Ministry received the lion's share of press and commercial success during the '90s, but there were a handful of other bands that were slugging it out for just as long (if not longer), including KMFDM. The band's name has been the subject of countless debates among fans over the years as to what it stands for (their record company even went as far as holding a contest in 1994 for fans to submit possible meanings, resulting in more than a thousand entries), but the confirmed meaning is "Kein Mitleid Für Die Mehrheit" which, when translated into English, means "No Pity for the Majority". The German band has included countless members over the years, but through it all, their leader has remained Sascha Konietzko, whose multiple roles have included that of songwriter, producer, mixer, programmer, sampler, vocalist, percussionist, bassist, and electronic gadgeteer.
Originally formed in Paris, France, KMFDM was founded by Konietzko and German painter/multimedia performer Udo Sturm. The duo made their in-concert debut on February 29, 1984, when they performed at an opening for an exhibition of European artists at the Grand Palais in Paris (with the show consisting of Sturm playing a synthesizer that would play feedback, and Konietzko playing a five-string bass). The same year, KMFDM issued its debut release, Opium, but Sturm exited the group shortly thereafter (around the same time, Konietzko was joined by drummer En Esch, who would remain with the group from then on out). With Sturm out of the picture, Konietzko and Esch put KMFDM on hold at first and joined up with New York industrialist Peter Missing to form the outfit Missing Foundations. But before the new outfit could issue any recordings, both Konietzko and Esch had dropped out and returned back to KMFDM (Missing Foundations would carry on with replacement members and go on to issue albums on their own from the late '80s through the early '90s).
KMFDM's sophomore effort, What Do You Know Deutschland?, came in 1986 and was the group's first of many for Chicago's famed industrial label Wax Trax! But instead of if being an album of all new tracks, it was comprised of selections spanning from 1983 through 1986 (in fact, several were from prior to Esch's joining). Around this time, KMFDM struck up a relationship with artist Aidan Hughues (aka Brute!), who would steadily supply cover artwork for the group the images would become synonymous with KMFDM's hard-hitting music. Konietzko and company pushed forward with such further '80s releases as 1988's Don't Blow Your Top and 1989's UAIOE, during which KMFDM found themselves in the middle of an underground industrial movement (it didn't hurt matters that Wax Trax! quickly became one of the leading industrial labels in the world, as they were the home to such other similarly styled acts as Ministry, Revco, Front 242, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, etc.).
But KMFDM had yet to tour America by 1989 (having heavily toured Europe with the likes of Einstrüzende Neubauten, the Young Gods, and Borghesia, among others), something they sought to correct when they were offered a slot opening a U.S. tour for labelmates Ministry, who at the time were readying their classic The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste release. With the tour lined up for a summer launch, it was pushed back several times (due to Ministry leader Al Jourgensen falling ill) and the tour finally got underway in December 1989. The tour successfully established KMFDM as a band to watch in the industrial underground, as they returned back to Europe after the tour's completion to work on their fifth full-length release overall, 1990's Naïve. Realizing that industrial's future lay in the U.S., Konietzko relocated KMFDM's home base from Hamburg to Chicago during 1991. The same year, KMFDM's side-project Excessive Force was formed, issuing a debut release, Conquer Your World, in 1992, the same year that KMFDM issued a new release as well, Money.
But just as it appeared as though KMFDM was about to break through to a wider audience, Wax Trax! suddenly found itself on hard times, resulting in the label being bought out by TVT Records. What followed for KMFDM were some of its best-known and strongest releases: 1993's Angst (which earned the group their first real exposure on MTV via the video clip for the track "Drug Against War"), 1995's Nihil, and 1996's XTORT. During the same time, Excessive Force issued a second release, 1994's Gentle Death, while Konietzko relocated once more, this time to Seattle. Further releases followed in the late '90s (1997's Symbols, 1998's Agogo, and 1999's Adios), before KMFDM disbanded on January 22, 1999. In the wake of the group's split, Konietzko assembled a new outfit, MDFMK (yep, KMFDM spelled backward) and issued a lone self-titled release in 2000 before KMFDM reunited in 2002 for an all-new album, Attak, and the live album Sturm & Drang Tour 2002. 2003 saw the release of WWIII followed by WWIII Live 2003 a year later. Released on KMFDM Records, 2005's Hau Ruck was classic KMFDM with its aggressive industrial power. The Ruck Zuck EP followed in 2006 with the full-length Tohuvabohu landing in 2007. Remix album Brimborium and rarities collection Extra, Vol. 1 were both released in 2008. In addition to leading KMFDM, Konietzko has also worked with other artists either playing, producing, or remixing tracks/albums by Die Krupps, Front 242, kidneythieves, M People, Peter Murphy, Pig, Schwein, Sister Machine Gun, and Swamp Terrorists, among others. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
Selected Discography
Avid fan since sometime between Money and Angst. Actually I put down the music collection for a few recent years and have been having fun catching up as well. Some of the later work is hit and miss for me but still overall enjoyable. They still rock live as well. I've probably seen them eight times during the last 15 years and they've always been top notch performers.
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You Like This? Check Out "EXcessive Force" It's Members Of KMFDM & My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. Excellent Stuff
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I love this band so much, especially Anarchy.
I seem to find a lot of good bands on Pandora these days... |
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It brings a tear to my eye that so many people are being turned onto KMFDM because of Pandora...
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Symbols was the last CD I listened to back in HS when it came out....damn I got some catchin up to do.
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they have been together longer than any other band I know. Twenty two years.
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been listening to them for 15 years. they never get old. just love them. f**k top 40!
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never heard of these guys until i tuned into pandora and i love them.they are awesome.
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haven't listened to these guys since '95, which was pretty damn stupid on my part, didn't realize what i was missing, and now i've got new albums to pick up. very nice
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This was the band that opened my eyes to Industrial in all its nihilistic glory. The more I listen, the deeper the lyrics become to me, and the music is infectious to say the least. Hau Ruck, Xtort, WWIII, Attak, Symbols and Angst are superb imo. I'm partial to Kill My Forty Demon Monks!
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i love German/East European heavy/indust r i a l metal/altern a t i v e bands
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I agree with rlc37; we don't want to be hearing this music on elevators . . .
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KMFDM<>MDFMK is the best industrial/g o t h / p u n k / m e t a l (that u can acually dance 2) band - that u haven't heard of - on f'n the planet. Lets keep it that way. Don't tell your freinds!!!!
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besides skinny puppy KMFDM is probly one of the greatest f**kin bands in show on the trip!!!!!!!! wheres oue 2008 come on boys come on
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OK,js63123, who do you prefer? I like this band; it fits with my Industrial group; they can fight with Wumpscut for my favorite one.
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i like the way you think mega ultra super joeS thats f**kin hott you turn me on!!!!!!!!!! ! !
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Never listened to KMFDM until I started tuning in to Pandora. Wow these guys are awesome. Thanks Pandora!
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KMFDM or whatever the f**k u guys said, they turn me on!!!!!!!! i need them to love me in the butt!!!! LOL
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Its actually "Kein Mehrheit fur die Mitleid". "Kein Mitleid fur die Mehrheit" is grammaticall y correct, but Sascha has said in multiple interviews that the grammaticall y incorrect version is the right one.
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KMFDM stands for "Kein Mitleid Für Die Mehrheit", when translated in English means No Pity for the Majority, like it says up there ^^^
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So what does MDFMK stand for then? Many dogs find me kind? Maybe don't fondle my kids? Mike definitely fixed my kitchen? My, disco feels mighty kinky? What does it mean!? Tell us Greg Prato, tell us!
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Up until now I gave this band a wide berth as I thought it stood for "Kill Mother F*cking Depeche Mode". Pandora has shown me the light!
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